METR 201: Physical Processes Dr.

Dave Dempsey
in the Atmosphere

Physical Quantities: Dimensions and Units

Quantities Dimensions MKS and CGS Units

MKS: kilograms (kg)

mass mass
CGS: grams (gm or g)

distance, depth, length, MKS: meters (m)

distance
height, width CGS: centimeters (cm)

time time seconds (sec or s)

temperature temperature Kelvin (K) and

Centigrade (degrees C)

MKS: m2
area distance × distance CGS: cm2
distance × distance
volume × distance
MKS: m3
(i.e., distance3) CGS: cm3

mass/volume MKS: kg/m3

density (i.e., mass/distance3) CGS: gm/cm3
speed; velocity (motion) MKS: m/s
(rate of change of distance/time
CGS: cm/s
position)

acceleration
(distance/time)/time
(rate of change of an MKS: m/s2
object’s velocity with CGS: cm/s2
respect to time) (i.e., distance/time2)

force
(“push” or “pull” that can
change an object’s mass × acceleration MKS: kg × m/s2
(Newton)
motion) or
CGS: gm × cm/s2
(Note that weight is just a mass × distance/time2
special case of a force— (dyne)
the force of gravity)

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METR 201: Physical Processes Dr. Dave Dempsey
in the Atmosphere

Quantities
Dimensions MKS and CGS Units
(cont’d)

pressure force/area
(collective force exerted or MKS: N/ m2
by random molecular col- (mass or (kg × m/s2)/m2
(Pascal)
lisions against each unit of × distance/time2)/area
area of an object’s or
surroundings) energy/volume CGS: dyne/cm2
work MKS: Newton x m
(force times distance over force × distance or kg × m2/s2
which the force is applied or or Pa × m3
to an object as the object mass × acceleration (Joule)
moves under the influence × distance
of the force); or CGS: dyne × cm
energy pressure × volume or gm × cm2/s2
(the capacity to do work) (erg)
energy/time MKS: J/s
power or or N × m/s
(energy transferred or force × distance/time or kg × (m/s2) x m/s
gained or lost per unit or (Watt)
time) force × velocity
etc. CGS: erg/s
energy flux (energy/time)/area
or MKS: (J/s)/m2
(rate at which energy is force or W/m2
transferred, absorbed, or
× (distance/time)/area
lost per unit time per unit etc. CGS: (erg/s)/cm2
surface area)